The Perseid meteor shower, an annual display that lasts about a month every summer, is expected to peak early on Sunday morning. In recent years, the meteor shower has been hard to see in the NYC metro area; last year's peak coincided with a full moon, and in 2021, the shower peaked on a day with heat, humidity, and clouds. This year, the predicted peak coincides with a chance for thunderstorms in the Tri-State, but that doesn't mean we're out of luck! Meteors may still be visible at a rate of around 30 per hour on Sunday night. Here's why you should try to view the Perseids on both Saturday and Sunday:
- The moon will be in the waning crescent phase. Just a small sliver of the moon will be visible, reducing the amount of light it will reflect back to Earth. A less-bright moon means less interference with the light display of each meteor.
- On Saturday, the current forecast from the National Weather Service office in Upton, NY calls for thunderstorms, so don't venture outside if you hear thunder (more on lightning safety here). But mostly clear skies are predicted on Sunday night into Monday morning. If the clouds stay away, we should be able to glimpse a few meteors, even in the metro area. One year, I saw a Perseid meteor while walking my dog in Central Park!
- The humidity will drop on Sunday, too. Muggy air is not just uncomfortable for standing outdoors and stargazing, it can also impede your view of the heavens. Water vapor scatters light more efficiently than dry air, so if it's less humid as it's predicted to be, then the view of the stars should be better.
With the right conditions present, we can expect to see about one meteor per minute.
Photo from skyandtelescope.org
Even with favorable weather and moon phase, it's still tough to see the Perseids in the Tri-State area due to all the light pollution. Follow these tips to maximize your chance of seeing the meteor shower:
- Get as far away from city lights as possible. If it's safe to do so (and if you're allowed), you might want to try the roof of your house or apartment building.
- Look for meteors after midnight and before dawn. This is when the sky is usually darkest.
- While Perseid meteors may appear anywhere in the sky, they will likely be concentrated at the shower's radiant point. Look toward the north and northeast and elevate your gaze away from the horizon. The meteor shower will rise higher in the sky (from our perspective) as the night goes on.
Graphic courtesy of skyandtelescope.org
You can find more facts about the Perseid meteor shower at Sky & Telescope's website, which has a wealth of easy-to-read information about other celestial events as well. This article also includes a great explanation of the reason meteor showers exist and why we can see them as bright shooting stars. And, check out more Perseid photos on this site. Enjoy the show!
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